FAQs
How to Thicken Soup with Rice, Bread, Potatoes or Beans. Foods like rice, bread, potatoes and beans are naturally high in starches, which, when broken down, act as a thickening agent. With rice, the grains will break down into the soup as it's simmered and stirred, releasing the starches and thickening the soup.
How do I thicken my soup without cornstarch? ›
How to Thicken Soup with Rice, Bread, Potatoes or Beans. Foods like rice, bread, potatoes and beans are naturally high in starches, which, when broken down, act as a thickening agent. With rice, the grains will break down into the soup as it's simmered and stirred, releasing the starches and thickening the soup.
Can I use flour to thicken soup instead of cornstarch? ›
Although it won't produce the same glossy shine as cornstarch, it'll get the job done in a pinch. All-purpose flour contains about half the thickening power of cornstarch, so for every tablespoon of cornstarch required, you'll need to substitute two tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
How to make a sauce thicker without cornstarch? ›
1. All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering.
How to thicken without flour or cornstarch? ›
Flour and Cornstarch Alternatives:
- 01 of 04. Arrowroot. This powder comes from rhizomes of the Marantaceae family of tubers. ...
- 02 of 04. Tapioca. Tapioca is derived from the cassava root. ...
- 03 of 04. Potato Starch. ...
- 04 of 04. Pureed Vegetables.
What is the healthiest way to thicken soup? ›
The absolute healthiest way to thicken soup is by using a traditionally made bone broth powder like the one from Bluebird Provisions.
- Oat Flour, Quinoa Flour or Chickpea Flour.
- Applesauce or Mashed Bananas.
- Eggs.
What is a healthy substitute for cornstarch in soup? ›
To replace two tablespoons of cornstarch, you'll need one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with four tablespoons of water. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes until it thickens and becomes jelly-like. You can then add it to improve the consistency of soups, sauces, and other foods.
What can I use if I don't have cornstarch? ›
Potato starch is the cornstarch substitute favorite of associate food editor Kendra Vaculin. A light white powder extracted from crushed potatoes, it's an almost flawless one-to-one swap for cornstarch in all applications.
Can I use baking soda instead of cornstarch? ›
Can I Use Baking Powder or Baking Soda Instead of Cornstarch. It's not recommended to use baking powder or baking soda as a substitute for cornstarch. Baking soda adds a particular flavour and both of them have specific chemical properties which is why they act as leavening agents.
What is the best thickening agent for gravy? ›
To make a good cheese sauce or gravy, you need a thickening agent. Cornstarch and flour are two common thickening agents in the home kitchen. Both are cereal starches and when they're mixed with a liquid and then heated, they gelatinize.
Arrowroot powder (a.k.a. arrowroot flour and arrowroot starch) delivers thickening results that are very similar to what cornstarch offers. Arrowroot makes a beautifully shiny sauce, and you can use the same amount of arrowroot that you would cornstarch.
How can I thicken a sauce quickly? ›
Use one tablespoon cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon cold water (aka a cornstarch slurry) for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix the cornstarch and water together, then pour into your sauce. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.
What is the healthiest thickening agent? ›
Easy-to-access alternatives are wheat flour, arrowroot flour, and rice flour. These are good alternatives to cornstarch because they are more nutritious and contain fewer carbohydrates and calories. Xanthan and guar gum are much stronger thickeners than cornstarch, but they can be harder to obtain and use.
Which is a substitute for 2 tablespoon of cornstarch for thickening? ›
If you're thickening a dish, you could try substituting for cornstarch by mixing 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with 4 tablespoons of water. This should replace about 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. You can combine ground flaxseeds with water and substitute the mixture for cornstarch.
Will simmering sauce thicken it? ›
How do you make a sauce thicker? The easiest way to thicken a sauce is by reducing the amount of liquid. This can be done by simmering your sauce or bringing it to a full boil—do this uncovered, so the steam can escape.
How to make soup thinner? ›
Adding/mixing water in the soup makes the soup less thick. (discrepencies apply. You could use more vegetables/fruits/ingredients with water in them in your soup or just plain ol' pour in water, though ratio applies. Some ingredients have more water than others.
How can I thicken water without a thickener? ›
Common Liquid Thickeners
- Banana flakes.
- Cooked cereals (like cream of wheat or cream of rice)
- Cornstarch.
- Custard mix.
- Gravy.
- Instant potato flakes.
How do you thicken soup without milk or cream? ›
Add rice. Take a page from comforting porridges like jook or congee, and add ¼–½ cup rice to your soup for starchiness that fortifies the broth and clings to your spoon. Give the grains a quick rinse, then stir in while the soup is simmering, cooking until the rice is tender all the way through, about 15–20 minutes.
Can you thicken soup with baking powder? ›
According to Our Everyday Life, baking powder does do the job in a pinch, but it's not the first ingredient you should reach for. The reason is that baking powder doesn't function primarily as a thickener, it just happens to have a thickening agent in it — cornstarch.